Angered over a purported shortfall of funding from the Finance Ministry as the capital reels from a devastating economic downturn, Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat led hundreds of protesters who blocked the entrance to the Knesset with garbage trucks Monday morning.

Surrounded by city merchants, residents, council members and municipal workers, Barkat demanded that Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon meet with him immediately to discuss the additional NIS 450 million he is demanding to balance the city’s 2016 budget.

“The Finance Minister needs to give an explanation as to how it is possible that since he took office he hasn’t found time to meet even once to discuss the aid to Jerusalem and refuses even today to help business owners who were seriously harmed by the security situation,” Barkat said.